The MataBlog is edited by Matador Records’ co-moaner Gerard Cosloy and individual entries are the work of whoever’s name is next to them. If you enjoyed something in the MataBlog, thank you very much! If there was something you found particularly troubling, please be advised that a) maybe you should read it again and b) the contents of this blog do not necessarily represent the opinions of Matador Records, Beggars Group, the combined staff of either company, nor the Matador artist roster. Opinions are like friends — hardly anyone has one worth listening to.

August 5, Lincoln Center, NYC – Lee joins forces with Brooklyn’s electric guitar quartet Dither for a newly arranged performance of his “Hurricane Transcriptions”, a piece originally written for string orchestra based on wind sounds recorded during the height of the Hurricane Sandy storm in 2012. Lincoln Center Out of Doors Series. FREE.

August 8 North Adams, MA – Lee joins Oneida at Mass MoCA to perform live amidst an enveloping 12-screen video installation of twisting color and light by Clifford Ross that transforms Courtyard D into a twisting world of color and light, part of Ross’ multi-part exhibition, Landscape Seen & Imagined.

(studio version found on 'Between The Time & The Tides' ; shot on the streets of Stoa Eboron for "Stray Songs", a series of web videos featuring bands and musicians playing live in the city of Athens).

"While the members of The Dust are scattered to the four winds for a little while, I’m undertaking a solo acoustic tour in Europe. The plan is to play selections from the two albums, some covers and hopefully some of the new songs I’m currently working on, and to play them as most of them originated – on acoustic guitars, in stripped down style. Guitar and voice, little or no fuzz. Anyway that’s the plan right now, this will be a further ‘acoustic experiment’ for me. We’ve sought out small capacity, intimate venues with good acoustics for these shows. Hope to see some of you along the way."

Over the weekend, Nowness premiered the above film directed by Fred Riedel and based on Lee Ranaldo's "Blackt Out" (original studio version found on 2013's 'Last Night On Earth') ; here's Lee's take on the 13 minute short :

The basic concept plays off particular images of the Velvet Underground as filmed by Andy Warhol in the late 60s, casually rehearsing at the Factory, performing (as The Exploding Plastic Inevitable) on St Marks Place with projections and dancers, and even Warhol’s famous 'Screen Tests'. The character of “The Projectionist” is played by legendary NYC avant-garde filmmaker Ken Jacobs (with whom both myself and director Fred Riedel studied back in the 70s). Among the dancers can be spotted former SY drummer Bob Bert. Longtime SY associate, director David Markey, is among those behind the camera on this piece. Shot at Sonic Youth studio Echo Canyon West as well as at live gigs in New York City and Los Angeles.

Lee and the Dust return to Europe next Sunday for the following shows :

Taking his art and his band out the road, Lee Ranaldo's just announced more dates for his May/June run of dates in Europe, along with news of a solo drawing show entitled "Lost Highways" opening March 30th - May 4th, at the Jan Dhaese Gallery in Gent, Belgium.

Meanwhile, his tour dates with The Dust have been updated (new in bold below), with their upcoming Scandinavian tour starting next Thursday at Vega in Copenhagen:

It's another mini-Matador fest at Primavera Sound festival this year, as Queens of the Stone Age, DARKSIDE, Body/Head, Lee Ranaldo and The Dust, Majical Cloudz and Glasser all descend upon Barcelona for the weekend of May 29th-31st. Elsewhere amongst the line-up familiar faces include Spoon, Mogwai and Cold Cave ,with tickets on sale now from www.primaverasound.es.

Happy New Year everyone. Lee Ranaldo and the Dust are kicking off the Fort (do we like that? for 2014? get back at me) with a Vice Cooler-directed video for "Late Descent #2" from the recent album The Last Night on Earth (available for purchase):

Lee Ranaldo & The Dust --- confusingly enough, shown above performing at another radio station a few months ago --- can be heard today on Brian Turner's WFMU program from a session recorded this past Saturday afternoon in beautiful Jersey City.

OK, we missed Black Friday by a few days, but if that means ONE LESS TRAMPLING this holiday shopping season, it was totally worth it. On December 3, we're releasing a limited edition, one-time pressing of a $5.99 list LP , 'It's Been A Business Doing Pleasure With You', featuring 9 songs from (most of) our 2013 releases. In addition to album tracks from Chelsea Light Moving, Majical Cloudz, Body/Head, Lee Ranaldo & The Dust, Iceage and Kurt Vile, there's a live version of Queens of the Stone Age performing "If I Had A Tail" at the 2013 iTunes Festival (Roundhouse, London), Savages' "City's Full" from last summer's KEXP session, and Yo La Tengo performing "Before We Run" in those same KEXP studios.

We don't have any copies for mail order, sadly, but hopefully you'll find one at your favorite record store after they're done sweeping up all the broken glass, blood, etc. from Black Friday. If you prefer, you can order a digital version of the comp. right now at the Matador Store.

As observant followers of Lee Ranaldo's Instagram* know, Lee and The Dust have been making their way across America's Heartland, one venue at a time. (And, on one particularly notable day, two Waffle Houses at a time.) Tomorrow, the guys return to New York to play with Kurt Vile & The Violators at Terminal 5, and tonight you can listen in to The Space Parlour on St. Louis's KDHX to hear a live session they recorded during their STL stop. Please do tune to 88.1FM tonight at 7:00PM CDT, or, if you aren't living in St. Louis currently, feel free to listen online at KDHX.org.

As evidenced by his catalog of work - especially his newest album Last Night On Earth - Lee Ranaldo knows his way around a guitar. And he wants to share some of his knowledge with the good people of New York City.

Monday October 28 at 8pm make you way to Other Music where Lee will be hosting his first Guitar Clinic, having a discussion and demonstration of his weapon of choice. What's more, you'll not only walk away with a new found respect for and knowledge of the Axe, you'll also walk away with a signed poster. Shithotdamn.

"Ranaldo sounds like he’s indeed having the best time of his life." Tiny Mix Tapes

Get 'Last Night On Earth' at the Matador Store,iTunes, Amazon or at your favorite indie retailer. Lee Ranaldo & The Dust kick off a lengthy tour tonight in Hudson, NY - check out the dates here. Tonight, the band's session airs on WNYC Soundcheck at 9pm EDT on 93.9FM and WNYC.org

Get 'Interiors' at the True Panther Store, iTunes, Amazon or at your favorite indie retailer. This week, Glasser kicks off a pre-tour run of shows in LA (10/10), Toronto (10/13) and Brooklyn (10/15, True Panther CMJ showcase). All dates here - see you out!

ABOUT

The MataBlog is edited by Matador Records’ co-moaner Gerard Cosloy and individual entries are the work of whoever’s name is next to them. If you enjoyed something in the MataBlog, thank you very much! If there was something you found particularly troubling, please be advised that a) maybe you should read it again and b) the contents of this blog do not necessarily represent the opinions of Matador Records, Beggars Group, the combined staff of either company, nor the Matador artist roster. Opinions are like friends — hardly anyone has one worth listening to.